Fully Vaccinated International Students to Arrive before Christmas
Education partners have signed up for a programme with the New South Wales government to bring back international students. The pilot programme will only be available to those who are fully vaccinated, with the first consignment of 500 overseas students due before Christmas. Institutions such as Macquarie University, University of Sydney, UNSW, University of Newcastle, UTS, and Western Sydney University are signed up for the programme. In addition, independent institutions such as the International College of Management Sydney, Redhill, Kaplan, Navitas, and Study Group are opening their doors.
NSW’s Deputy Premier, John Barilaro, has said the staged return of students would slowly expand and evolve as vaccination rates continue to rise nationally and internationally. Although he stressed the importance of being fully vaccinated with a Therapeutic Goods Administration recognised COVID-19 vaccine before arrival. These include Moderna’s Spikevax, Astrazenca’s, Covishield, Pfizer’s Comirnaty, and Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen.
The Australian Minister for Jobs, Investment and Tourism, Stuart Ayres, noted over 57,000 students are currently overseas, and many were desperate to return. Those returning will be required to comply with quarantine restrictions where necessary.
However, it is a positive for the students stranded in India who are desperately waiting to return to finish the final semesters of their courses. Also, it will alleviate the toll taken on many students’ mental health. Being in limbo for almost two years has been a financial and emotional drain on many Indian students. Now the signs of recovery are beginning to show.
